Wire-stretcher.



l PATENTBD APR. 28, 1,908. A. W. SPRAGUE. WIRE STRBTGHER. APPLICATION.FILED AUG. 23.1907.v

INVENTOR fue NqRRls PETERS ca.. wAsulNcroN, D. c.

UNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR W. SPRAGUE, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEEL &WIRE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 28, 1908.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ARTHUR W. SPRAGUE,

of La Grange, Cook county, Illinois, have,

invented a new and useful fire-Stretcher, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a plan view, illustrating the manner of using the Wirestretcher; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is asection on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

My invention has relation to wire stretchers and is designed to rovide ahand operated stretcher of sim-p e construction which is effective inits operation and which can be used without in any way cutting ormutilating the wire to be stretched.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a toolembodying my invention, the numeral 2 designates a lever bar which isformed with a slotted head portion 3 in which is pivoted a shank 4 of amovable head 5. The head 5 has a fulcrum end portion 6 adapted to take abearing against a fence post or other object by which the wire is to bestretched and at the base of which is formed a wire gripping jaw 7 ateach side of the shank portion 4.

8 is a movable wire gripping jaw having a slot 9 through which the shank4 loosely extends. This slot 9 is made sufficiently larger than theshank (see Fig, 3) to permit the jaw 8 to have a slight rocking movementon the shank for the purpose hereinafter described. The gripping facesof the fixed and movable jaws are preferably of waved form so that theywill have an extended grip upon the Wire to be stretched without in anyway cutting or mutilating the same, as Will be readily seen from thedrawings. These jaws may, however, if preferred, be provided with anysuitable form of gripping surfaces. The opposite face of the movable jaw8 is of convex form and rests in loose contact with the convex edges 3ELof the slotted head 3, the latter being fianged as shown to extend theworking of these bearings. These edges 3a are formed eccentrically with-respect to the pivot of the head 5, and constitute cam surfaces foractuating the movable jaw. The movable jaw is also preferably providedwith the guide lugs l() which loosely engage the concave faces of saidflanges and not only guide the jaw but normally hold it in openposition.

The manner of using the stretcher will be readily understood from Fig. lof the drawings. The wire to be stretched is caught between the two jawsand the fulcrum portion of the lever is placed against the post or otherobject past which the Wire is to be stretched. The lever bar is thenmoved, thereby forcing the movable jaw to clamp the wire between theitwojaws. Owing to the loose mounting for the movable jaw, this movable jawis free at all times to assume a position in which its gripping face isin parallelism with the gripping face of the opposite jaw, so that thewire is securely grasped throughout the entire length of the jaw and isprevented thereby from being cut or mutilated.

It will be noted that the tool is of double form, a pair of the grippingjaws being in effect provided at each side of the tool so that it isadapted for use at either side of a ost.

p The tool described is simple in its construction, being composed ofbut three operative parts which are of a strong and durable character;Yit is convenient in form and can be easily and quickly applied to theWires, and as before described, can be used without in any way injuringthe wires. Owing to the manner in which the movable jaw is actuated, thegreater the pulling movement on the lever bar, the tighter the wire willbe gripped.

What I claim is l. In a wire stretching tool, a lever having abifurcated convexed and laterally flanged end portion, a head formedwith a jaw and having a shank pivoted in the bifurcation, and a movablejaw mounted on said shank between the fixed jaw and the end of the headand arranged to be actuated by the convexed end of the latter, saidmovable jaw having guide lugs engaging the flanges of said end;substantially as described.

2. A Wire stretching tool comprising a lever having a bifurcated forwardend and provided With arcuate flanges upon the sides of the bifurcation,a head having a shank pivoted in the bifurcation eccentric to theiianges, transverse shoulders upon opposite sides of kthe headconstituting jaws spaced In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set fromthe lever, and a movable jaw slidably my hand.

'embracing the shank between the fixed jaws and the lever and providedwith rearwardly ARTHU W' SPRAGUE' 5 directed projections embracing therespec- Witnesses:

tive anges of the lever, substantially as-de- GEO. H. PARMELEE,

scribed. H.- MQ CORWIN.

